The Department of Perfusion at Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences draws attention not only with its educational and scientific studies but also with its life-saving applications worldwide. The team led by Prof. Dr. Ali Kocailik, Head of Üsküdar University's Perfusion Department, is unique in Turkey and one of only 11 teams worldwide involved in critical patient transport.
Prof. Dr. Kocailik emphasized that this achievement is made possible not only by technical equipment but also by qualified human resources and a strong academic staff, stating, “We are not only saving lives, but also training the perfusionists of the future. With our experience, laboratory facilities, and scientific studies, we are in a pioneering position both in our country and globally.”
The Department of Perfusion at Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences draws attention not only with its educational and scientific studies but also with its life-saving applications worldwide.
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ali Kocailik, Head of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Perfusion, the team consisting of Intensive Care Specialist Dr. Kadir Doğruer and perfusionist Tarık Demir from Üsküdar University, is one of only 11 teams worldwide involved in intercontinental critical patient transport. This team from Üsküdar University is the only one in Turkey participating in intercontinental transport in this field.
Prof. Dr. Kocailik explained the challenges of this critical process as follows:
“Some patients' hearts and lungs function so inadequately that they cannot survive without device support. In intensive care, they depend on many devices; they cannot even be transported within the hospital for examinations like MRI or tomography. Their survival and transport are only possible with extracorporeal life support systems. These systems are operated with perfusion applications that require advanced knowledge and experience.
The Üsküdar team started 10 years ago with inter-hospital and inter-city transports. Subsequently, they stepped into the international arena by successfully performing organ transplants between Baku–Istanbul and Kosovo–Istanbul. Today, they stand out globally as one of the rare teams capable of operating in intercontinental flights.”
One of 11 teams worldwide in intercontinental transport…
There are five different categories in organ transplantation, ranging from within the hospital to intercontinental dimensions. However, only 11 teams worldwide can perform intercontinental transports, which is the most challenging link in this chain. The only team in Turkey to achieve this success is the expert staff of Üsküdar University's Perfusion Department.
Prof. Dr. Kocailik emphasized that this achievement is made possible not only by technical equipment but also by qualified human resources and a strong academic staff, stating, “We are not only saving lives, but also training the perfusionists of the future. With our experience, laboratory facilities, and scientific studies, we are in a pioneering position both in our country and globally.”
With this achievement, Üsküdar University's Perfusion Department has taken on a role not only in education but also in international healthcare services.
What is the Perfusion Department?
It is a branch of science that ensures the patient's vitality during interventions on the heart and/or major vessels, and during heart and/or lung transplants by using heart-lung machines, and also significantly contributes to the treatment of critical patients with ECMO and extracorporeal life support systems.
Professionals in this field are given the title of perfusionist. To become a perfusionist, a 4-year perfusion bachelor's degree or a perfusion master's degree is required.